Saint Lucian Dr Hyginus ‘Gene’ Leon took office Tuesday as the new President of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), the bank has announced.
As a result, he has become the sixth chief executive of the regional multilateral institution.
Leon, a seasoned economist, will lead a team of more than 200 employees at the CDB’s Bridgetown, Barbados headquarters.
According to the CDB, he brings to his new assignment 35 years of experience in economics, financial policy development and executive management.
Over 20 of those years he spent working with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Leon succeeds Dr. Warren Smith who retired on April 30 after serving as President for 10 years.
A CDB statement on his new appointment said that high on Leon’s agenda is supporting the bank’s Borrowing Member Countries through the COVID-19 recovery.
According to the bank, Leon intends to do so while advancing the CDB’s mandate to contribute to the harmonious growth and development of member countries and promote cooperation and integration among them.
